Features

Bad road conditions led to firefighter deaths

By Jessica Brice The Associated Press
Wednesday October 30, 2002

SACRAMENTO — Bad road conditions and driver inexperience contributed to an accident that killed three firefighters this summer, a U.S. Forest Service investigation has concluded. 

Firefighters Steven Oustad, 51, of Westwood; Heather DePolo, 29, of Redding, and John Self, 19, of Susanville were killed July 28 when their fire engine rolled 800 feet down a mountainside. 

The engine crew was based on the Lassen National Forest in Susanville.